Drug Sweep In Reading Snares 63

More than 200 law enforcement officers arrested 62 men and one woman early yesterday who allegedly sold cocaine and heroin for two years in a working-class neighborhood of Reading.

The raid was one of the largest in the state by the U.S. attorney's office, according to authorities.

There are arrest warrants for 45 other local drug dealers, said U.S. Attorney Michael M. Baylson.

The raid came after a federal grand jury returned three indictments Tuesday charging 27 individuals with distributing large quantities of cocaine and heroin in Reading.

About 6 a.m. yesterday, officers arrested the kingpins and sellers in two long-standing drug rings, state police said. Outside the ring, they arrested a single dealer, who was charged with distributing cocaine near a school, they said.

The Garcia Cocaine Organization, which operated in and around the Saloon Bar, 341-343 S. 8th St., sold approximately $11.5 million worth of cocaine in an 18-month period, Baylson said.

Police said they were still investigating the amount of heroin sold by the Rosario Heroin Organization, which they said also operated in and around the Saloon Bar.

The drug raids were announced at a press conference at Reading City Hall yesterday. Along with Baylson, representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Pennsylvania State Police, Berks County District Attorney, and Berks County police issued statements.

Gov. Robert P. Casey, in a statement concerning the drug enforcement operation, said, "I congratulate the state police and other participating local and federal agencies for the long and often dangerous work that was necessary over the past 10 months to penetrate and destroy this drug ring."

Jack Dodds, assistant to the U.S. attorney, said as a combined arrest effort for federal, state and county agencies, the raid yesterday was the largest one that he knew of in the state.

The indictment, that was unsealed yesterday morning, charges 19 people on 23 counts with operating a large-scale cocaine distribution organization, referred to as the Garcia Cocaine Organization, between April 1988 and October 1990.

The indictment alleges that the GCO distributed up to 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of cocaine a week during the 18 months of the conspiracy.

Baylson said the Saloon was opened and maintained as a front for the distribution of GCO cocaine.

The GCO distributed cocaine from a room above the bar, an apartment known as the "office," which was staffed by GCO members in three shifts a day, seven days a week, Baylson said. Access to the office was gained through an intercom system and a steel door installed in a steel reinforced wall.

According to the indictment, GCO packaged the cocaine and stored it at various "stash houses" in Reading, including 952 Culvert St. When a customer ordered cocaine in the office, a "runner" for the GCO was summoned by telephone to bring it from one of the stash houses.

Police said GCO distributed cocaine in the Saloon Bar itself, in the neighborhood around the bar, and at other locations in Reading. Included are the Cozy Corner Bar, 9th and Muhlenberg streets; 116 S. 9th St.; 952 Culvert St.; and the 400 block of Minor Street. Police said GCO distributed cocaine to undercover officers on 22 occasions.

Police said Luis Hugo Garcia, who was known as "Cujo" on the streets, was the founder and leader of the GCO. Police also said that Daniel Jacinto Leonardo acted as the leader of the GCO in Garcia's absence, and that Garcia and Leonardo smuggled persons from the Dominican Republic to Reading to sell cocaine for the GCO.

The indictment further charges that Luis Paulino and Pedro G. Rosario were "lieutenants" to Garcia and Leonardo. The other people involved in the organization acted as shift bosses, runners, sellers and workers.

If convicted on all counts, the leaders face maximum sentences of life in prison, with mandatory minimum prison terms of 20 years, and $8 million in fines. The others involved also face possible life terms in prison, but with mandatory minimum terms of 10 years and fines of $4 million, Baylson said.

The Rosario Heroin Organization ran between June 7 and Sept. 18, 1990, with Jovanie Arsenio Rosario as the ring leader, Baylson said. Rosario was incarcerated two weeks ago for a local drug charge, Baylson said.

Members of the RHO brought customers from other parts of Reading to the area of 8th and Muhlenberg streets, to buy heroin, police said.

The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute heroin. The defendants are also charged with participating in nine separate distributions of heroin to undercover officers, Baylson said.

If convicted, Rosario and members of the organization can face up to 40 years in prison on each count, with mandatory minimum prison terms of five years, as well as $2 million in fines.

In addition to the charges against the two drug rings, a grand jury returned a five-count indictment charge against Juan Pena, of 653 Tulpehocken St., Reading.